Personal Computer Games


Tornado Low Level

Author: BW
Publisher: Vortex
Machine: Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Personal Computer Games #10

Tornado Low Level

This is the first game from Vortex since their blockbuster Android 2 and has been eagerly awaited, not least at PCG.

The action takes place in a small wrap-around landscape interspersed with lakes. On the ground are buildings, trees, electricity pylons, poles and walls. The buildings though are unconvincing and are just red and white blobs.

Your Tornado starts on a runway and after fuelling can take off into the scrolling scenery in search of five enemy bases which you have to destroy. The lighter moves as in Zaxxon with left and right banking but you can explore the landscape in any direction.

Tornado Low Level

At its flight ceiling the plane can avoid all but the tallest buildings and the poles. But to destroy the five bases you must descend to a very tow level and fly directly over the disc that passes for a base.

The plane has two flight modes with the wings either forward for landing and slow flight or swept back for faster and higher scoring flight. There is smooth movement and an excellent shadow of your plane zooms over the ground as you fly.

You are shown a radar screen, altimeter, fuel gauge, time limit and the number of enemy bases remaining on the right of the display. The fuel can be replenished by landing on the runway again and the time limit's no problem.

Tornado Low Level

Some nice touches are the lakes which are below the land level, so surface skimmers must beware of cliff walls. There is also a bridge to fly under which is great tun to have a go at.

On the second mission, a base is placed in the water, which makes it a lot harder to get at. On later missions the awkward positioning of discs makes things even trickier.

There are no bullets and bombs in this game but once you get familiar with the controls it's a great program.

BW

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